[sdiy] Modding an old analog - Puzzle part II

[DCMagnuson at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/9/01 12:22:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
vitreousflux at wwnet.net writes:

> The schematic calls for a tantal electrolytic cap, but the actual cap used
>  appears to be a paper or ceramic (not sure - glossy epoxy looking, and bulb
>  shaped).
>  
>  The original cap was a 3.3u 16v. The best match I had lying around were 
some
>  10u 35v (electrolytic) caps. Tried one singly, then two in parallel. It 
sure
>  does work, it slows the LFO way down, to a nice desirable speed. Is the cap
>  voltage rating difference going to matter?


If it's rather round-looking and hard and glassy, it's probably a tantalum.  
They look like a little blob of smooth melted plastic with leads poking out.

Using a cap with a higher voltage is fine... just don't go to crazy (35V is 
fine, but I'd avoid 50V+)... I've heard that they'll deteriorate faster if 
the voltage rating is much too high.

Dave Magnuson